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Top 5 ways to avoid USB malware

By Becky McCray

Viruses, trojans and other malware love to travel via USB drives these days. It’s up to you to stop them in your business.

USB drivesInc. Magazine featured some of the USB malware problems and solutions recently. Here are my top 5 suggestions for small businesses from that article:

  1. Use a newer operating system. Windows Vista and Windows 7 are less susceptible to USB-carried malware. 
  2. Still on Windows XP? Press the Shift key when you insert a USB stick. That keeps malware from using AutoRun to infect you. 
  3. Buy and use newer USB sticks with security features. 
  4. Update your anti-virus software. Don’t have any? Use Avast Anti-Virus for free. 
  5. Keep critical data on only one computer. Keep USB devices away from it, and keep it offline.
Read more about USB security at Inc. Magazine: Malware takes aim at USB devices.
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About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
  • Zoom Towns: attracting and supporting remote workers in rural small towns - December 10, 2020
  • In an economic crisis, spend your brainpower before your dollars - November 25, 2020
  • Video: How to fill empty car dealership buildings for the holidays - November 6, 2020
  • How has 2020 changed the challenges rural small towns face? Tell us here - October 20, 2020
  • The Idea Friendly Method to surviving a business crisis - October 6, 2020
  • Join me for the Rural Renewal Symposium online Oct 13 - September 26, 2020
  • Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals - September 11, 2020
  • Refilling the rural business pipeline - July 7, 2020
  • Huge vacant buildings: grants to renovate? - June 9, 2020
  • Economic self defense for small towns  - June 7, 2020

December 6, 2010 Filed Under: entrepreneurship

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Comments

  1. Alex Lesberg says

    December 16, 2010 at 9:34 pm

    These are some great tips. For #2, another way to prevent AutoRun from running is to disable it entirely in Windows. Here’s the official Microsoft how-to: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967715.

    Alex @ Jackrabbit.com

  2. Becky McCray says

    December 17, 2010 at 12:26 am

    Thanks, Alex. That isn’t as simple, but once it’s done, you don’t have to worry about remembering.

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